Liquid gauge



W. GOERG LIQUID GAUGE Filed April 28, 1932 Nov. 20, 1934.

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NvENToR AT'roRNE Patented Nov. 20, 1934 1 ,.5 ,354 ,v

LIQUID GAUGE Walter Goerg, Woodclii, N. J., assignor to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York lApplication April 28, 193,2, Serial No. 607,979

7 Claims. (Cl. 'I3- 54) This invention relates to a liquid gauge or inthe gauge, and thus prevents possible clogging dicator for tanks, and more especially for of the gauge. A further object is to provide such acetylene generators of the carbide to water a gauge with a diaphragm, above the gauge-glass, type. Gauges embodying the invention can be for preventing gas in the tank from flowing used to indicate the level' of liquid in the tank, through the gauge to the gauge-glass. Such an 60 the quantity of liquid, the amount of liquid in arrangement makes it impossible for gas to relation to a standard'of reference, or the degree escape from the tank if the gauge-glass becomes of surplus or deficiency of liquid in relation to a broken. condition of suinciency. A further object is to provide a gauge-glass '10, The-ordinary visual water level indicator comwater-level gauge, in which the pressure of the 65 monly used on tanks includes a glass tube, which liquid in the tank is transmitted to the liquid in has both its upper and lower ends communicatthe gauge-glass through a diaphragm which is ing directly with the interior of the tank through loaded so that readings 011 the gauge-1255 Will fittings connected with the side of the tank. be at a different level from the water in the tank.

v Such a gauge is simple in construction,but has Such an arrangement makes it possible to have 70 certain inherent disadvantages, particularly. if the level in the gauge-@S ai? a COIlVeIlent locaused to indicate the height. or amount' of water tion for taking readingsin acetylene generators of the carbide to water Other objects and advantages of the inventionY type. Il the glass in such a gauge is accidentally Will appear or be pointed out as the description '20, broken, the gas from the generator will escape proceeds. 5

through the gauge, and this gas may cause re The drawing shows a sectional View of a waor explosion'. Another disadvantage is the foulter-level indicator made in accordance with this ing or choking of the gauge by sediment which invention.

accumulates inthe water conduit, particularly in An acetylene generator water tank 10 has 25 the conduit through the bottom fitting. In the upper and lower openings 12 andA 14, respective- 80 ordinary type of gauge, the water levelL in the 1y, and upper and IOWBT gauge fittings 16 and gauge glass is the same as the water level in the 18, resp-20111116137, are 001111601586. With thev tank tank. This determines the locationofthe gauge over the openings.

glass and sometimes causes the gauge to.` be Associated-with the lower gauge iii/ting is a located in an inconvenient position for reading. diaphragm 20, Which prei/ellis liquid in the tank 85.

An object of this invention is to provide a l0 from entering the itiDgS- A gauge-glass 21 liquid-level or liquid-amount gauge in which is held by the fittings, as shown in the drawing,

flexible diaphragms prevent fluid in the tank each of the fittings having an orce opening from flowing through the gauge littings, and to into the endfof the gauge-EMSS- A diaphagm A; provide pressure-transmitting means and an in- 22 associated with the upper gauge fittings 16 9@ dicator between the ilexible diaphragms, the inprevents gas flOm fiOWiIlg tillllgh this upper dicator being moved by or with the exing ofthe fitting. Thus, if the glass 21 is broken, the diadiaphragms. Such a gauge is particularly useful Dhragm 22 Will prevent the escape 0f gas from on tanks in which the gas or vapor over the the tank.

; liquid is above or below atmospheric pressure, A body of indicating liquid 23 is contained in 95 because the diaphragms neutralize the effect of the large well ofA the lower tting 18 and a porthe gas or vapor pressure and make the gauge tion-of-it stands in the glass 21, this body of liqabsolutely leakproof, there being little or no being quite cut oi from the liquid in the possibility or the diaphragms being broken so tank bythe diaphragm 20.

that air can leak into the tank or fluid under Afdisk 24 is secured to the diaphragm 20, and 100 pressure escape from the tank. a stem 26 is connected with this disk. A bell- Another object of this invention is to provide crank 28 is pivotally mounted onfa shaft 30. This a gauge-glass water-level or water-amount inshaft 30 is supported by the gauge tting 18. dicator in which the liquid 'in the gauge-glass is The stem 26 is p-ivotally connected with one 5U, not in direct contact with the water in the tank, end of the bell-crank 28. A rod 32 is pivotally 105 a diaphragm being provided through which the connected with the other end of the bell-crank, water in the tank transmits pressureto: the and this rodV extends upwardly through the liquid in the gauge. When such'a gauge is used gauge-glass 21 and connects with a disk 34. with an acetylene generator, the diaphragm pre- This disk 34 contacts with the lower side of vents the slaked limein the tank from entering the diaphragm 22. A nut 35 is threaded on the 1,10

upper and of the rod and clamps the diaphragm 22 against the disk 34. A spring 36'is located between the top Wall of the gauge tting 16 and the upper side of the diaphragm 22. In the embodiment of the invention ilustrated, the spring 36 is under tension and loads the diaphragm 22 directly. The load of the spring is transmitted through the disk 34, rod 32, bell-crank 28, 'stem 26, and disk 24, to the diaphragm 20.

The fitting 18 is filled with a liquid 23 behind the diaphragm 20, and this liquid is displaced into the gauge-glass when the diaphragm is flexed by water pressure in the tank.

A scale 38 is located alongside of the gaugeglass, and legends Iare provided on thel scale to indicatethe amount of water in the tank. The scale shown in the drawing is marked with minus indications, which denote the drop in the water below a predetermined level to which the tank is initially filled.

When the tank 10 is filled to this initial level, the water pressure on the lower diaphragm 2O will deflect this diaphragm to the right, in the drawing, and cause the liquid outside the diaphragm to stand in the gauge-glass at the level of the zero indication of the scale. As the water level in the tank drops, the pressure on the diaphragm 20 will decrease, and the pressure of the water column in the gauge-glass will force the diaphragm to the left in the drawing. This movement of the diaphragm 20v will permit the liquid level in the gauge-glass to drop until it againr balances the water in the tank.

If the spring 36 is omitted, the liquid level in the gauge-glass will always stand at the same level as the water in the tank. If the spring 36 is under compression, the liquid level in the gauge-glass will be lower than the water level in the tank. With the spring 36 under tension, theA liquid level in the gauge-glass stands higher than the water level in the tank. It is not necessary to load the diaphragm with a spring unless it is desirable to have the level of liquid in the gaugeglass stand higher or lower than the water level in the tank. Such a difference in the level may sometimes be desirable to bring the gauge-glass level to a position where it is easy to observe. The scale must be calibrated for the particular spring loading used. The invention is not limited to spring loading, and weights or other means may be substituted.

It is evident that the pressure of the gas in the tank will have no effect on the working of vthe indicator. The gas pressure will be transmitted through the liquid and increase the pressure against the lower diaphragm, but this increase, caused by the gas pressure, is balanced by the equal pressure which acts on the top of the upper diaphragm 22 and is transmitted through the rod 32, bell-crank 28, and stem 26, to the other side of the diaphragm 20.

The preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated and described particularly for use with acetylene generators, for which it is unusually well adapted. However, it is well suited for use with other types of tanks or containers, and various changes and modifications may be made in the structure described without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim:

l. A water-level indicator including upper and lower gauge fittings; a gauge glass held at opposite ends of said fittings, a flexible diaphragm in the lower fitting for preventing liquid from flowby the diaphragm; a fiexible diaphragm in the v upper fitting for preventing fluid from owing through said -upper fitting; and mechanical pressure transmitting means connecting the two diaphragms so that motion of either diaphragm will be transmitted to the other.

3. A water-level indicator including a gauge fitting for connecting with a tank below the water level of the tank; a flexible diaphragm forming a partition'across the inside of the fitting; liquid in the fitting behind the diaphragm; yan upwardly extending gauge-glass on the fitting in position to receive liquid which is displaced from the fitting by flexing of the diaphragm; 'a gauge fitting at the top of the gauge-glass for connecting with the tank above the water level of the tank; a fiexible diaphragm in the upper fitting for preventing fluid in the tank from flowing through the topigauge fitting; and mechanical pressure-transmitting means connecting the two diaphragms, a portion of the motion-transvmitting means Aextending through the gaugeglass'.

4. A water level indicator for an acetylene generator water tank, said indicator including a low-` er gaugefitting for connecting with the tank below the water level of the tank; a flexible diaphragm in the lower gauge fitting for limiting the flow of water into said lower gauge-fitting; liquid in the fitting on the side of the diaphragm opposite the tank; a gauge-glass communicating yat one end With the lower gauge fitting in position to receive liquid displaced from the fitting by flexing ofthe diaphragm; an upper gauge fittingv connecting with the other end of the gauge-glass and adapted to connect with the tank above the` forming a partition across the inside of the fitv ting to limit the flow of water into the fitting; an upper gauge fitting for connecting with a tank above the water level of the tank; a flex-i ible diaphragm in the upper fitting for prevent.-

ing fluid from flowing through the upper fitting; pressure-transmitting connections between the diaphragms; a member loading the diaphragms; a scale; and an' indicator which is moved along the scale by the flexing movement of the dia.- phragms. 1

6. A liquid gauge connected with an enclosure containing a liquid surmounted by aA gas subject to pressure other than atmospheric, said gauge containing an isolated liquid column and a glass in which said column is visible, and having upper and lower connections with the. gas and liquid spaces of the enclosure, flexible diaphragms interposed in both connections', and a mechanical interconnection between said diaphragms for equalizing the effect of the gas pressure.

'7. A Water-level indicator including a lower gauge fitting for connecting with a tank below the water level of the tank; a exible diaphragm forming a partition across the inside of the tting to limit the flow of water into the fitting; an upper gauge tting for connecting with a tank 

